Simple Ways to Practice Self Care
If you want to live a happier, healthier life than self care is of utmost importance.
We often think of self care when we are sick, but it’s even more important to practice year round as a prevention tool. Even though taking me time is the key to your health, it can be really tough to follow through with it.
We are busy. We are stressed. We are in our phones 24/7.
It’s hard to get motivated enough to pull ourselves away from the hustle and bustle to take that “me time.” Even worse, so many of us feel guilty when we do take that time. You may think that you have to put everyone else in your life ahead of yourself. Your kids, your parents, your job, whatever it is, we often push ourselves to the back.
Even though it seems like we are being selfless and kind when we put everyone in front of ourselves, in reality, we are better able to take care of those around us when our health is in check.
So, it’s time to ditch the guilt and find some simple ways to practice self care…
Simple Ways to Practice Self Care
Practice good sleep habits
This one can be a tricky one, especially when you’ve had a long, busy day and all you can muster the energy to do is to watch trashy television and scroll through your phone. Have you ever gotten the alert on your phone on how much time you spend on your phone? It can be scary, huh!
It can also mess with your sleep. Use that phone for good. Set an alarm on your phone to remind you to start your bedtime routine.
It works for babies, why can’t it work for us too? So many of us go from lights and action to trying to close our eyes to sleep and we wonder why we struggle to shut our minds off. Take plenty of time to wind down. Listen to some calming music or a meditation. Take some time to stretch or chat with your significant other, write down things you are thankful for or even read a good book.
Start small. Don’t try to revamp your sleeping habits all at once. Maybe start with setting an alarm on your phone to put your phone down first. Then, as you get more comfortable, start to add in more stress-reducing practices to wind down before bed.
Start your day on a positive note
What’s the very first thing you do when you wake up? Now what are your priorities? Is the thing you are doing first align with those priorities? Do you go right to your phone first thing to make sure you have any emails or do you take the time to ease into the day?
How do you feel when you wake up in the morning? Do you wake up refreshed and excited to start the day? Or are you waking up already stressed? How can you change your behaviors to turn things around?
Maybe start with reminding yourself what you are grateful for. You can even write down a special quote or mantra and add it to a post-it note next to your nightstand to read when you get up in the morning. You can start with a nice stretch or exercise to get your body moving and feeling good before you even tackle the most difficult things of your day.
If you want to start your day off right, the evening routine is key. Get yourself prepare ahead of time so you wake up with determination, not stress. Lay your clothes out the night before and get your breakfast and coffee ready to go. Pack your kids’ lunches ahead of time and make sure everything you need is in sight and ready to go.
Take time to declutter and put everything in it’s proper place
When things are cluttered it can be overwhelming and difficult to think clearly. The key is to make sure that everything has a place and everyone knows where that place is. Go through your drawers and clothes and donate and give away. Do you really need all of those items? Or are they just taking up more space?
Decluttering can also be a great way to relieve stress. It’s like lifting a weight off of your shoulders when you walk into a newly straightened up room.
Try the 2 minute rule when it comes to cleaning and straightening up. If it’ll take 2 minutes or less, just get it done now. The more you can get done in a short amount of time will save you time and energy later if you leave it to pile up.
Practice healthy eating habits and exercise
Obviously you knew we were going to add this one in, but it’s SO important. Exercise can help with your stress, can help you sleep better, makes you feel good and look your best. If you do it at Remix, it’s also a great way to make social connections which is also another way to practice self care.
When it comes to your eating, it’s helpful to think about what you’re putting into your body vs what you are trying to avoid. When you’re eliminating things it’s all you can think about. Instead, try adding more vegetables into your diet. The more of the good stuff you can get in, the more you will be filled up before you reach for the not-so-good stuff.
So many of us know the importance of eating healthy and exercise, but we struggle to actually get it done. Often times it’s because it’s not right there in our calendar reminding us. Book your classes, schedule your meal prep time just like you would schedule a doctor’s appointment and keep to it.
There are lots of ways to practice self care and these are just a few of them. If you are looking for some extra guidance when it comes to bettering your health and wellness, be sure to book a VIP call with us!
